Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-04-16
WV FRATERNITY OF 'HRI>TIt>
VORhFRS.

Twenty years age about all the church
and Christian work that was undertaken
was attempted by pastors. deac0nS, elders,
members OF official boards" and Sunday
school workers. Great Difference was paid
Ia the work of the pulpit. and none too
much. but il was expected that il was the
preaching of the gospel, mainly. that was
to cunN ert the world. As Il consequence of
this general plau--or lack of plan-there
was not a large aggregate of church work
and there were very few working churches,
and the progress Of Christianity in America
was marked with rate ot progress that
was much too slow.
Then there arose a new element in church
work. III the organized activity Of the
women. expended largely in behalf OF for
eign and home missions. and which. when
ii became fully developed. and vitaliled
and spiritualized, proved I" be a great pow
er for good in the church. not only in the
line of promoting missionary zeal and en-
largeI contributions, but in stimulating
home work of all kinds. Women who
found that they could work effectively in
one line Of Christian activity discovered
also. that they could be useful in all
lines. And it was found that tht.
amount of work done and money appropri-
ated fer missions, through the efforts of the
women, did not diminish the aggregate of
their personal service in other branches of
church activity nor lessen the contributions
for general church purposes, but really in
creased both.
Now we have another element introduced
into church work and enterprise namely
the Young Peoples Society of Christian
Endeayor. scarcely five years Old and ap-
preaching a membership of 100, 900, in the
whole country. having its weekly new>pa-
per organ. the Gni,I,u RUlC, of Boston. and
having local branches and circles in
churches of all denominations. and il is 4
growing fraternity. y" organization in
creases more rapidly. in either numbers or
usefulness. The Young peoplc-many Of
them boys and girls-rnter upon almost all
descriptions OF church work. and d" il in i
Ntli EaillAfu why. ~ tilsli
member has a regular work to perform and
iS held responsible for doing it thoroughly
and well. Usually. the efficiency of 4
church in which the operations of one Of
these societies is wisely and emergetically
carried on. is doubled or trebled. The de
rotional. missionary. and especially the con
secration meetings, are models OF thei:
kind. and from them radiate differ
ent forms and kinds of Christian work that
reach. in some way or other, all classes in
the congregation. and not infreQuently,
reach out. beyond il. into the community.
one thing mole needs to be done in
church work. The women and the chill
dren are al work, and We now look toI-
ward to a movement that shall reach and
organize and inspire the men of the churches
and the congregations. When those who are
prominent in business circles. who are
leaders and princes i'll the trades and pro-
fessonS. shall be led TO organize themselves
for church work. in manner and by
methods similar to those we have men
toned We shall hau.A tho whni.. chn~"L
-,:,- stirred up. vitaliEeh and AZ
lively employed in pushing things" in he
half of the good cause.